HI, I’M VEGAN MAGDA!
I hope the below stories will make you smile! I’m so happy to share my vegan life with you.
They say that every good story starts with a heartbreak…Or an anecdote. I’ll go for the latter option. I remember talking to my dad a few years ago, desperately trying to persuade him to recycle countless plastic bottles and reduce his meat intake(‘Dad, how would you feel about maybe having meat less than three times a day?’). He’d just look at me with these eyes full of pity, feeling sorry for me and how naive I was in his opinion. But I’m not a quitter, so, I come up with this sad story about animals dying and that his very young daughter (my half-sister) wouldn’t be able to see an elephant or a zebra even in the zoo…(I thought it was actually really good heart touching stuff).
And there comes his answer. Short and not so sweet:’You haven’t seen dinosaurs and you turned out ok!’Pause… Long pause… This moment when you realise you don’t really speak the same language. So, this was THE moment. The moment when you are becoming so sure to pursue what you really believe in. The moment when you become a warrior of a good fight, a fight without a material prize. It’s like starting a marathon knowing that there will be only a few people waving at the end, someone may hug you. That’s it. Nothing fancy, no extra numbers in your bank account, nothing to brag about to your friends.
Yet, THE happiest moment in your life, when passion becomes your full-time job. And this is how this blog, Instagram page and YouTube channel was born. I always loved cooking, I travelled a lot, I fell in love with India (not from very first sight thou!), I got inspired by very wise people that I had the privilege to be around, I took a huge chance by quitting ‘safe job’, and the rest…to be continued. I am known for my ability to talk for England and the same relates to writing, so expect food recipes with some personality.
MY CHEESY BREAK-UP STORY
We’ve all been there…Relationships that are not so great for us, yet we continue to carry on. Because when it’s good, it’s REALLY good. The thrill, the short moment of joy, getting lost in lust. Living like there’s no tomorrow, carelessly. Kinda knowing that this is all about to end soon, with a big bang, feeling guilty and not so happy after all. Still, reaching for more. Time to stop this toxic relationship. For good….
Dear cheese, I loved you dearly! With this unconditional, forgiving, one-way stream type of love. Knowing that I don’t get anything back. Unless you count expanding on my love handles and filling my veins with cholesterol. But still, I’d give anything for those moments of what I thought happiness was. We’ve been together for a long time, far too long if you ask me, and I never tried to leave you really. Sometimes I’d have a braver moment, pretending to be strong and go on for a few days without seeing you in my fridge. But soon after, I’d be running to meet you in the first supermarket. And, just like that, we would be back together, again.
So one day, I decide to end it. For good. This has to stop. I know this will be hard, mostly for me, as you will find someone else really soon. Who doesn’t love cheese, after all?
And as in life, EVERYTHING starts with a decision. Yeah, sure, it may be difficult, inconvenient. It may seem extreme, unnecessary, so the mind will start to bargain with you…Maybe just have cheese at the weekends, maybe have a really good and expensive one, this will feel more special, maybe have it just when on holidays…Aren’t these the stories we keep saying to ourselves all the time?
My break up with cheese started with a decision, conscious self pep talk. And then I followed through. Maybe the time was right, as they say, maybe I was ready, maybe my body naturally rejected it. Maybe. Or, maybe, we all need to decide. About our life- what we do with it since we only get one. About who we love, not to waste this precious energy. And about food, since it is such a powerful lifeforce. Make a decision. About anything. Where do you want to be next year? Make the decision to be there. Now. Don’t wait for the circumstances and conditions to be perfect. Assess it along the way. And enjoy the ride.
VEGAN WEDDING BUFFET
What? Vegan wedding buffet? But what would my guest say? Trust me, they will say HELL YES! As long as the food is vibrant, delicious, exciting and beautiful of course! No one will miss the meat, because no one will even remember that it exists! Everyone will be...
REAL VEGGIE BURGERS
A long, long time ago, before all mock meat was invented and brought to every supermarket, there was a humble veg burger. Made of simple vegetables, hence its name. I remember some awful ones, mostly flour, carrots and some peas, seasoned with an excessive amount of...
SPICY TOFU SALAD WRAPS
This is such a good way of using tofu when you are craving something lighter. Don't get me wrong, I love sticky, fried tofu covered in teriyaki sauce, with a big bowl of noodles. But when the weather is hot, and I cannot even look at the gas hob, this recipe is just...
VEGAN CHICK’N CAESAR SALAD
This salad is so much more than just a few leaves thrown on the plate! It comes together in a few minutes, and you can prepare pretty much everything n advance. If you don't have time to make my seitan tofu chick'n, that's totally ok, as the salad will be amazing...
MUSHROOM AND CARAMELISED ONIONS RAMEN
This ramen is sensational, flavours are rich, sweet, deep and with each spoonful, you discover another layer. First, sweet caramelised onions, then, richness coming from the mushrooms, umami from reduced soy sauce, and mellowness of miso. Topped with shitake, crispy...
COCONUT SESAME RAMEN
I could eat noodles all my life, every day. Ramen is my definition of comfort food. Huge bowl, the most aromatic broth and a whole array of bits to choose from. I love how versatile ramen can be and you can make it from almost anything. There are no strict rules, and...
CREAMY MILLET AUBERGINES BAKE
This bake will knock your socks off! It is rich, creamy and so satisfying, all thanks to millet and oat bechamel. You will be surprised how those cooked grains transform into this rich, creamy sauce! Fluffy and light, it crispens up in the oven and turns golden brown....
QUICK POTATO PARATHAS
These will steal your heart after the first bite. These quick potato parathas are fluffy, spicy, soft and so addictive, you won't be able to stop reaching for one more! They are great to mop up the curry or ideal for a traditional Indian breakfast, topped with some...
MARROW AND TOMATO QUICK STEW
This super-simple dish takes me straight back to Poland, it is warm September, we are spending time in our little cottage in a small village. The kitchen is very small and basic, so whatever we would cook, must be simple. Local greengrocers will be full of seasonal...
THE BEST NO FISH PIE
This faux fish pie recipe is my absolute favourite! I was experimenting with lots of ingredients and combinations to substitute familiar flavours and textures- artichokes hearts turned out to be an absolute winner. This pie is creamy, full of sea aromas and covered...
SMOKED VEGAN MISO CHEDDAR
This cheese is not for the faint-hearted! It is smoky, rich, salty, tangy and really bold. All thanks to intensive aromas of miso and added liquid smoke. It is creamy but holds its shape well so it can be sliced. It tastes fantastic with crackers or some vegetables,...
THE BEST VEGAN FETA
This is probably the best feta recipe I have tried and tested many times. It is tangy, salty, crumbly, anything you expect from this Greek-style cheese. You can experiment here as well, by reducing the amount of agar, so your feta will be more spreadable, something...
MUSHROOM SEITAN STEAK
This mushroom seitan steak is so tender and moist, and its texture is a bit different to my other seitan recipes. It is much softer and juicy, thanks to sitting in the marinade and absorbing all the juices. You can use it in a variety of ways, as a traditional steak,...
VEGAN FLUFFY PANCAKES
I love cooking. I truly truly do, and I spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Even my desk and laptop are set up in the kitchen corner, I just love being around pots, spices smells as they inspire me and make me feel cosy. BUT... I'm also the most impatient,...